Water-gage.



vvR. J. NAULT. WATER GAGE. I

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1910.

995,414. Patented June 13, 1911.

2 SHBETS*SEEET 1.

w97 W a iii f1 R. J. NAULT. WATER GAGE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 17, 1910.

Patented June 13, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

4 )fr Il woo'ufoz,

(imi/M1000 e o RAOUL JOSEPH 'NAULT, 0F IVILD'EN, MASSACHUSETTS.

WATER-GAGE.

nannte.

Specification of Letters Fatent. Pathemjfgd Jun@ 113, 19111.,

Application led June 17, 1910. Serial No. 567,517.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it kown that I, RAOUL JOSEPH NAULT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Water-Gage, of which the following is a specification.

rIhis invention relates to improvements 1n water gages and the object of the invention is to provide a simple and eicient device by the use of which the level of water in a steam boiler o-r similar vessel will be indicated with certainty and whereby an alarm will be sounded whenever the water level is labnormally high or abnormally low.

One object ofthe invention is to provide an apparatus of the stated character which may be advantageously utilized at a point above or below the boiler so that it may be located in a room above or below the building or immediately adjacent thereto, as circumstances may demand.

'Ihe invention seeks further to provide a device in which the indicator will be sustained in free suspension so as to be veryl sensitive and respond instantly to variations in the water level.

The invention seeks further to improve and simplify the construction-and operation of water" level indicating devices, and all these objects are attained in the use of the device .illustrated in the accompanying" drawings.

The Ymvention consists 1r certain novel features of the same which will be hereinafter first fully described and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved water gage. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the indicating chamber and the elements mounted in and on the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the oatchamber.v Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the indicator chamber with some parts omitted. Fig. 5 'is a detail central vertical section taken at right angles tothe plane of Fig. 2.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a oat chamber or cylindrical body 1 provided, nearits opposite ends, with threaded openings 2 adapted to receive the ends of the pipes 3 which extend to the boiler so as to establish communication between the float chamber and the boiler whereby the water in the boiler may freel'yenter the :doat chamber and reach the same levelL in said chamber that it .has in the boiler. An ordinary water tube 4 may be secured upon the float chamber, as shown in Fig. 4, and for this purpose the body 1 is provided l with threaded openings 5, as will be readily understood. 'Ihe ends of the float chamber are closed by caps or heads 6, one of which is provided with a small central threaded opening 7 adapted to receive a pet cock 8 whereby the interior of the chamber may be kept clear and the reading through the Water tube 4 facilitated. 'Ihe chamber may, if so desired,be equipped with the usual gage cocks 9. The head 6 at the end o-pposite the pet cock is provided with a threaded opening 10 in which I secure the end of an eX- tension tube 11 which is carried to or se.

cured in one end Lofthe indicating body` or* Chamber, as will be presently more particu- `larly setforth. Within the float chamber or body 1, I provide a float 12 which may be of any desired form and is equipped with nipples 13 in which the ends of rods 14 are l secured, the said rods extending through the extension tube 11 and into the indicator chamber.

In the particular structure shown in the drawings, I have shown the indicatory cham-- parts may be reversed and the iioat chamber arranged at or near the upper end of a vertical boiler where the water tube could not be easily observed and the indicator'disposed near the lower end of the boiler at a point where it may be easily seen by the engineer. In the followin description, therefore, the terms upper and lower are notfto be construed as limitations,fbut

are merely terms of convenience for referring tol the parts as they are illustrated'in the drawings. f l

Upon the upper end of the extension tube "11, I secure a coupling or cap 1.6 of nonmagnetic metal, and in the upper side or end 'of the said coupling I` secure the lower ends of a pair of parallel tubes 17 which are constructed of some diamagnetic material which will withstand high pressure without requiring thick walls. The upper ends of these tubes are open and are secured lin a purities which may tend to collect within the tubes may be blown out so that the indicator chamber will be kept clear The tubes '17 will be of various lengths according to the capacity of the boiler to. which the device is applied, and within the tubes, at corresponding points of the lengths of the same, I provide the freely movable blocks or shoes 20 ofsoft iron which are secu-red to the upper ends of the rods or wires 14 and constitute armatures for a plurality of permanent horse shoe -magnets 21 which are disposed in rear of the tubes and have their ends arranged at opposite si'des of the tubes, as shown lmost clearly in Fig. 4. Soft iron strips 22 are secured to the ends of these magnets and fit against the tubes,

as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 4,' the said' soft iron strips constituting pole pieces for the several magnets, as w1ll be readily understood. yBetween the two tubes 17 I provide a small light soft iron ball or float 23 whichis held between the two blocks or vshoes 20 constituting movable armatures for themagnets, and is unsupported except by the magnetic flux between the armatures'. It will be readily understood that the oat l2 will rise or fall as the water lever `rises or falls and that the armatures 20, being connected with the float, by the wires or rods 14, will necessarily follow the move* ments of the float. The magnets being permanent, there will be a constant flux between the armatures which will act equally in -oppositedirections uponV the indicator ioat 23 so that the said float will necessarily rise or fall as the said armatures rise or fallf The-level of the water in the boiler will '26 having centrat vertical slots 27 through which the indicator float may be observed.

These frames are secured to the upper and under sides, respectively, of the couplings 16 and 18 and serve to hold the glass plates against the tubes so as to inclose the indicator float and protect the sameagainst any disturbance of the airfwhich might tend to interfere with its successful operation. The

indicator float will preferably be given a dull, dark' finish, and the rear glass plate 25 will be provided with aground surface so as to contrast sharply with the indicator float and thereby facilitate the reading. Should the device be located in a dark room or it be necessary to. use it at night, a light, indicated at 28, may be placed behind the glass 25 so as to illuminate the indicator. This light maybe of any convenient form, and an incandescent electric lamp will be found very suitable.

To the body of either coupling 16 or 18, I secure the end of anelectric conductor 29 which extends `to a battery or other source of current, indicated at 30. From the opposite pole of the battery, a conductor 31 extends to one binding post 32 of an .electric bell or other alarm 33, while from the other binding post 34 of said bell, conductors 35 extend to the opposite ends of the indicator chamber. These conductors 35 each pass into the space between the tubes 17 and the glass plates 24` and 25 where they are equipped with spring terminals 36 arranged in yjuxtaposition to contacts 37 secured in the inner faces of the couplings, as shown most clearly in Figs'. 2 and 5. These spring terminals 36. and the conductors 3 5 are, of course, insulated from the couplings and the frames 26 so that the circuit will ordinarily be broken. Should the water/level reach an abnormally high or an abnormally low point, the indicator "float will be carried against the spring terminal 36 at one or the other end of the. indicator, and the said terminal will be thereby forced against the contact point 37 and thereby establish an electric circuit through the coupling or the body of the indicator to the conductor 29, and thence to the battery and from the battery throughthe bell and one conductor 35 to the sprmg terminal 36 and the coupling, as will be readily understood; Immediately upon the closing of the circuit, the alarm will be sounded and the attention of the engineer at once called to the dangerous condition of the boiler.

In order to give a neat'ornamental finish to the device, I secureto the strips 22 a pair of plates 38, shown in Fig. 1, which will cover the ends of the ma ets and will also facilitate the reading o the indicator by presenting a continuous surface and thereby avoid any carelessness or inaccuracy whichmi ht be caused by the effect upon the eye o the ends of the magnets, located adjacent to the indicator float.

It will bereadily seen that my device provides astrong magnetic eld extending the entire length of the strips 22, the lines of force of which tend to pass through the diamagnetic tubes so lthat the attraction upon .the armaturesv 20 and the indicator fioat i their position 'may be. The said armatures are kept in alinement by the rods or wires 14 which are of diamagnetic non-corrosive metal, and are secured t0 the float, as shown andI described, in order that the Aarmaturesy will be forced to positively follow the move-` oat to drop upon the lower terminal 36 and thereupon close the electric current and sound an alarm so that the faulty condition would at once be made known. The armatures will preferably be plated with a noncorrosive metal so that they will prove very durable. The armatures are disposed in a chamber which is' remote ,from the chamf ber containing the float and, consequently, will not be subjected t0 the influence of the `Vsteam or hot water in the float chamber to such an extent that the strength of the magnets and of the armatures 'is injuriously affected. There: are no delicate pivots, or

magnetic needles, or loose joints, or other elements in my device which are liable to get out of order, and all the parts are readily accessible for repairing or cleaning. Should I' it be necessary `to rechargeor replace the comprising a plurality of magnets, a pair magnets, this can be done without in any .way affecting the position or adjustment of any of the -otherparts of the apparatus.

` vWhile my device may be used in connection with the ordinary water tube for ordinary pressures, it may be utilized as a complete substitute for thewater tube, and for high pressure apparatuswill be so used.

` While I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which lI now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire v to have it understood .that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the vscope ofthe claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is '1. A` device .for the purpose set forth of movable armatures disposed between the ends of the magnets,'and an indicator held in free suspension by and between the said armatures.

2. In a device for the purpose set forth, means for the production of a magnetic field, means for locally concentratingthe vlines of force of said field, means controlled by the conditions to be indicated for shifting the'concentrating means with relation to the means for producing the magnetic field, and an indicator controlled by the con-- centrated lines of force and' participating suspension by the armatures therein.

at all times lin all shifting movements thereof.

3. In a water level indicating apparatus, the combination of a float, a plurality of magnets, a pair of armatures movable be- '70 tween the ends'of the magnets, an indica` tor held in free suspension by and between the said armatures, and connections between the armatures and the float.

4. rI`he combination of afloat, a magnet arranged remote 'from the float, a pair of armatures movable across the plane of the ends of the magnet, connections between the said armatures and the float, and an indicator held in free suspension by and be- 8!) tween the said armatures.

5. In a device for the purpose set forth, the combination of a plurality of magnets, fixed armatures secured to and connect-ing `the corresponding ends of all the magnets, `8.5

a pair of movable armatures arranged be tween the fixed armatures, means for automatically moving said armatures, and an indicator held in free'suspension by and between said movable armatures.

6. 'Ihe combination of a pair of diamag netic tubes, couplings at the opposite ends of the said tubes, magnets disposedl eXternally to the said tubes with their ends adjacent the same, armatures mountedv within ,95 the tubes and freely movable, means for automatically moving the said armatures, and an indicator arranged between the'tubeS. and held in free suspension by the armatures.

7. The combination of' a plurality of permanentmagnets, armatures securedto and connecting the ends of all the magnets, a pair of spaced parallel diamagnetic tubes arranged against and between said arma'- 1.05 tures, a freely movable armature within each of said tubes, means for simultaneously 'moving said armatures, and an indicator arranged between the tubes and held in free suspension by the armatures therein. 1.10

8. The comb'nation of a plurality of permanentmagnets, armatures secured to and connecting the ends of all the magnets, a pair of spaced parallel diamagnetic tubes arranged against and between said armatures, a freely movable armature -within 'each ofsaid tubes, means for simultaneously moving said armatures, and an indicator arranged between the tubes and held in free 9.-'I`he combination of va pair of'diamag- -netic tubes, couplings at the opposite ends of the said tubes, magnets disposed externally to the said tubes wit-h their ends adjacent the same, armatures mounted within the tubes and freely movable, means for automatically moving the said armatures, an indicator arranged betweenthe tubes and held in free suspension bythe armatures, transparent plates arranged against the front-and rear of the tubes and bridging the space between them, and slotted frames bearing against said pl'ates and extending .between and secured to the couplings.

10. The combination of a pair of diamagnetic tubes, couplings' at the opposite ends of the said tubes, magnets disposed externally to the said tubes with their ends adjacent the same, armatures mounted within the tubes and freely movable, means for automatically moving the said armatures, an

nets, means for automatically moving the means including a glass plate throughwhich said armatures, an indicator held in free suspension by and between the said armatures, and means for conning the indicator, said the indicator is visible.

12. The combination, in a water gage, of a pair of tubes,armatures mounted within the tubes and freely movable, means for automatically moving the said armatures, an in# dicator arranged between the tubes and held in free suspension by-and between the armatures, and transparent plates bridging lthe space between the tubes and confining the indicator but -allowing its movement to. be visiblethrough the plates.

13. In an indicator, means forl the produc-- tion of an elongated magnetic field of an eX- tentequal to the indicating range, 'means in said field for concentrating the lines of force to a restricted path, means for moving the concentrating means in the magnetic eld in accordance with changes in the characteristic to be .indicated,and an indicating means in the concentrated portion ofY the eld and movable with the same.

14. Anhindicator having 'means for the production of an elongated magnetic eld in extent corresponding to .the indicating range, means in said magnetic eld for concentrating the lines of force to a lrestricted path, means responsive to changes in the characteristic tobe indicated for moving said restricting means, and a.' magnetic body heldin suspension by the constricted por-v tion of the field and responsive to changes in location in said restricted portion of the fieldv due tov changes in the characteristic to be indicated.

.15. An -indicator 'having means for the production of an elongated magnetic field 1n extent corresponding to the indicating range, means in said magnetic field for concentrating the lines of force to a restricted path, means responsive to changes in the characteristic to be indicated for moving said restricting means, a4 magnetic body held in suspension by the restricted-portion of the ield and responsive to changes in locationof said restricted portion ofthe field due to changes in the characteristic to `be indicated', and means responsive tothe 'body held in suspension and located at the end" of the travel thereof for causing an indication when such body reaches said limit of its travel. 1'

16. An `indicator: having means for the production of a magnetic field elongated in a direction transverse to the direction of the lines efforce of said magnetic field, means in said field for concentrating the lines of force to a restricted path, means res onsive to variations 1n the 'charactenstic to cated for moving said restricting-means, a

e `indimagnetic body held in suspension by the restricted magnetic eld'and movable therewith orshowing changes in the character- `istie to be indicated, and-asignal means responsive to the indicating body when the latterl ismoved bythe action of gravity on Aescaping from the -influence of themagnetic In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiixed by signature in the'presence of two witnesses.

RAOUL Josnrn NAULT.

Witnesses: l

ELLIOTl T. STURGIS, STANLEY W. INGALLS. 

